Thyroid stimulating harmone

[ksirajuddin]

My thyroid stimulating hormone  is 15.5 is it serious

[Barb135]

While not "serious" in itself, TSH of 15.5 indicates that you have hypothyroidism and may need a thyroid replacement hormone, if you aren't already on one.  If you, you may need an increase.

Have  you  had any other thyroid related tests done, such as the Free T3 and Free T4, mentioned above, or thyroid antibodies?

[oldie]

mine was 38.74 once, induced by amiodarone. It was brought down to normal in three months with levothryroxine. No problem

[flyingfool]

NO.

First question is how are you feeling?  What are your symptoms?

you need additional testing for the TWO actual thyroid hormones and they are the FREE T4 and FREE T3 tests. The "free" test is different than the "total" tests.  the "Free" indicates that the hormone molecule is not attached and therefore "free" from being stuck to a protein molecule.  When the hormone is attached to the protein molecule, it becomes 100% useless!  So you realy want the free isolated hormones that actually do all the work to be tested and counted.

Also if you are fatigued and it is common for people with low thyroid to also be deficient in the following and you should be tested for these as well

Vitamin D3,
Vitamin B-12
Iron
Ferritin

back to TSH.  TSH is a pituitary hormone.  It is supposed to signal the thyroid gland to increase and decrease the thyroid hormone production.  TSH is highly variable and can vary as much as 70% within a 24 hour period. TSH should be used as nothing more than a screening tests.  With real determination made on the Free T4 and Free T3 levels along with your symptoms.

if you are low thyroid (Hypothyroidism) or Hypo for short. Then you simply need to take thyroid medication to make up the shortfall.  The dosage level depends on each individual.

I suspect you are indeed Hypo and you may end up getting a low dosage of a starter thyroid medication.  But only if you are having symptoms.